Cartridge-shell cleaner



Patented Feb. 2|, I899.

c. w.' PHILLIPS. CARTRIDGE SHELL CLEANER.

(Application filed Jilly 14, 1898.) I

(N0 Model.)

m5 seams PETERS coy. PHOTO-UTHQ. wAsmuarou, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. PHILLIPS, OF ALEXANDER, ARKANSAS.

CARTRIDGE-SHELL CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming. part of Letters Patent No. 619,906, dated February 21, 1899.

Application filed July 14, 1898. Serial No. 685,924. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. PHILLIPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alexander, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shell-Cleaners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for cleaning the reloadable shells for firearms; and the object is to provide a simple and efficient device for cleaning the shell after it has been discharged and preparatory to reloading it.

To this end the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the same reference characters indicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved shell-cleaner. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the handle,which may be of any suitable size and shape, and it is provided with a longitudinal cylindrical bore 2, open at its forward end and closed at its rear end by the integral butt of the handle.

3 denotes the ferrule, and its outer closed end 4 is provided with an axial figure-8 orifice 5.

6 represents a duplex spirally-twisted stem which is adapted to snugly fit the orifice 5, so that when reciprocated therein, as will be hereinafter more fully explained, a rotary motion will be communicated to said stem.

The inner end of said stem is provided with a cylindrical follower-block 7, the rear end of which is formed with an axial longitudinal pocket or recess 8 to receive a bearing-ball 9, which is held in place by the recess 10 in the end of the shank 12 of the helical spring 13, the opposite end of said spring having a bearing in the butt-end of the handle, the tension of the spring being exerted to force the follower against the end 4 of the ferrule. The

outer end of the stem 6 carries a spiral cylindrical brush 14, and its immediate end terminates in a center point 15, which has a bearing in the loose cap 16.

The manner of using the implement is as follows: The shell to be cleaned is taken in the left hand and the handle of the implement grasped in the right. The brush 14 is then inserted in the open end of the shell and forced in until the cap 16 rests against the closed head of the shell. The handle is now forced downward on the stem, which causes the brush to rotate and clean out the inside walls of the shell. In the act of forcing the handle forward the helical spring is compressed, and upon removing the pressure on the handle the latter is forced backward by the action of the spring and the stem and brush are rotated in the reverse direction. A few reciprocating movements of the handle and the refuse matter is thoroughly detached, and when the brush is removed a slight tap of the inverted shell will discharge the refuse.

If desired, water may be used with the brush to facilitate the removal of the deposit.

The implement is susceptible of a variety of other uses in addition to that mentioned aboveas, for instance, the tool will be found very convenient for cleaning the chambers in the ordinary revolvers or pistols, the breechchambers of breech loading shotguns and rifles, and by replacing the cap 16 with a small chuck a very convenient means is afforded for manipulating such small tools as drills, awls, screw-driver bits, and the like. a 7 Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a shell-cleaner, the combination with the handle, 1, formed with the axial bore, 2, of the ferrule, 8, fixed on the forward end of said handle, and having its closed end formed with the orifice, 6, the helical spring, 13, seated in the handle-bore, 2, and having its forward end terminating in the axialshank, 12, the follower -block, 7, formed with an axial pocket, 8, to receive said shank, 12, the brush-stem, 6, having its rear end fixed in said follower-block and its free end terminating in the center point, 15, and the bearing-cap, 16, encompassing said center point, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. W. PHILLIPS. Witnesses:

ESTEN PELONBET, WM. PHILLIPS. 

